Can washing machine



Oct. 31, 1933. C Fl McEwAN 1,932,593

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 3l, 1933.c. F. Mer-WAN 1,932,593

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fami O4 Oct.31, 1933. c, F. McEwAN 1,932,593

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 "n iii Oct. 3l,1933. C. F, McEWAN 1,932,593

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 5 Sheets-'Sheet 4llllllll'llllllffll//ll gli ct. 3l, 1933. C, F McEwAN 1,932,593

CAN WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1929 5 sheets-sheet 5 /32 /x KX l fl,

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Patented Get. 3l, 1933 irc 1,932,593 CAN WASHING MAoHiNE Gnarles F.McEwan, Chicago, lli., assignor to Harry i). Lathrop, Chicago, Ill.

nieuwe@ December 27', 1929 Serial No. 416,964

4 Claims.

This invention relates to can washing machines of the type in which aplurality of cans of liquid containing receptacles are conveyed nie-lchanically through the machine and successively if subjected to aplurality oi washing operations. An object of the invention is theproduction of a machine of this character, highly eiTicient and durablein use, and having novel mechanical constructions, operations andfunctions. A further object of the invention is the construction of thepower driving mechanism in such manner that a plurality of power drivingoperations or functions are combined in a unitary structure employingbut one driving motor. An additional object is the provision of amachine constructed and arranged to be automatic in its generaloperation, although incorporating a large number of divergentoperations, all combining to produce a dennite result.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of themachine;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the ccmplete machine, takensubstantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. i; l

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the carriage releasing bar andcooperating mechanism, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism shown i Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom face of the drive disc;

Fig. 6 is a view of the release bar locking plate, taken substantiallyon the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 'l is a plan View oit the traveling carriage adapted to support andconvey the articles to be washed;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the carriage shownin Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the upper carriage supportingstructure and pans omitted;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the soda solution relief valve,taken substantially on the line 10-10 o1 Fig. 9; Y

Fig. l1 is a plan view, taken substantially on the line 11-11 oi Fig.1G;

Fig. 12 is a detail elevational view of the cold water valve control andconnections, taken substantially on the line 12-12 oi Fig. 2;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view oi the soda solution dissolvingmechanism, taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the valve operating mechanism for asteam supply line, taken substantially on the line 14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is aview of the steam and cold water mixing chamber to producehot water, and pipe connections, taken substantially on the line 15,--15oi Fig. 2; and

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the steam sterilizing valve andconnections, taken substantially on the line l6-16 of. Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the machinecomprises K al base structure preferably composed of radially eX-tending angle iron braces 19 connected to a centrally disposed circularplate 20 and supported by a plurality of legs 21. A transverse plate 22is adapted to support the unitary driving mechanism for performing thevarious mechanical operations, which includes an electric Ymotor 23having a drive shaft 24. As shown in Fig. 9, drive shaft 24 is arrangedto extend through and operate a cleansing solution pump 25, andcontinues through a bearing 26 for operative connection to hot air fanor blower 27. y Keyed to shaft 24,k adjacent motor v23, is a sprocketwhich carries sprocket chain 28 connected to asprocket keyed to shaft 29of a reduction gearing assembly 30. from Vwhich projects a downwardlyextending drive shait carrying drive pinion 31v arranged to mesh withdrive gear 32, as shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed upon the supporting base structure is a semi-.cylindricalcleansing solution receptacle or tank 33 having a bottom a transverseinner wall 35, and a curved outer wall 36. Upon the upper portion of thesupporting structure or base is a circular bearing plate 37, preferablyconnected to plate 20 by tie rods 38, and extending radially from plate37 are a plurality oi rib members 39, the outer extremities of which areupturned and welded to a circular band 40. Bearing plate 37, as shown inFig. 1, has a reduced hub portion 41 having a cylindrical openingadapted to provide a bearing for vertically extending drive shaft. 42,adjacent the upper end of which is keyed a circular driving disc 43, andthe lower extremity of shaft 42 has driving engagement with gear 32retained by nut 44.

The preferredeinbodiment of the apparatu disclosed is in the form of arotary washing machine having a rotary can carriage 45 provided withlower radially extending angle brace inembers 46 connected at theirouter ends to a circular v.adjacent the can.

Centrally disposed in the carriage /l5 is a driven disc 5e, the lowersurface of which is adapted to frictionally engage the upper surface of.driving disc 43, whereby the entire carriageV is rotated by saidfrictional engagement through rotation of the disc 113 which rotatescontinuously while the machine is in operation, but this frictionalengagement permits of periodical stoppage oi the carriageforinterrnittent can washing operationsy as hereinafter described, andduring such'stationary or rest periods of the carriage, disc 43 slidesupon disc 5e in its contact therewith. Disc 5e is provided withv acentrally disposed opening through which shaft l2 extends and is adaptedto rotate freely therein, and secured to the periphery of disc 5e is'Aan iniperforate cylindrical member 55, the upper extremity of whichwelded or otherwise suitably securedto upper circular plate 56,to whichin turn are connected the inn ner ends of radial rib braces 48. As shownFig. 1, the lower extremityof cylinder 55 is iiared outwardly to clear alow cylindrical wall 57 secured tobearing plate 37, which constructionand arrangement prevents the cleansing iiuids from coming in contactwith the driving mechanism; The upper surface of drive disc i3 ispreferably provided with a plurality of circular oil grooves 58 toreduce'wear.

inasmuch as in the present embodiment -sixecornp'artnient carriage isprovided, travel of thecarriage is adapted to'be arrested six timesduring-'a complete rotation thereof. During such periodsthe cans andcovers are successively subjected to cold water rinsing-operation,a-cleansing ,fluid wash, preferably'by a soda solution, a' hot waterrinse, a stearnsterilizing washing, and a hot air drying operation. Atone station or rest a can and cover are removed and a can and cover tobe washed placed upon the supporting grill. Superposed upon thestationary base'struc'ture is a` cylindrical inclosing hood 59 having aconical cover 60 and preferablyprovided with a circular angle iron brace61, the horizontal iiang'e of which is adapted to-rest upon band 40.Hood 53 entirely inclosesl the rotary carriage except for a door or'opening disposed adjacent the loading and unloading station. Mountedupon the carriage li5 and adapted to form the inner partition of thecompartments, is a cylindrical Wall 62 provided with a` vertical slots63 :for ea'ch compartment for successiveV registry with a verticallyextending cleansing solution spray pipe 64, perforated to spray soda1solution upon they adjacent exterior surface of a can. Pipe 64preferably has a readily detachable connection, as by a bayonet slotjoint,v for example, and for access each vertical slot 63 has a cutawayportion 65.

The preliminary cold water rinse is received from col'd water supplypipe 66 (see Fig. 12) having a branch pipe 67 in which is mountedcontrol' valve 66 of the push-stern type, adapted to be opened upondepression of the stern'. Pipe 67 is connected by means of pipes 69 and70 with a can spraying nozzle 7l adapted to register with an opening 52in the carriage, and consequently, the mouth of a can in invertedposition, and is also connected to cover spraying nozzles 72. A branchcold water supply pipe 73 leading from pipe 66 is connected by means ofa` transverse pipe 74 to pipe 75 which leads vertically to a dischargingelbow 76 for maintaining the supply of water to the soda solution tanlr33, the

volume of supply being controlled by manually operated valve 77. Leadingfrom pipe is a small branch pipe 73 provided with manually operatedvalve 79 and adapted to supply cold Water through a spray 80 disposedwithin receptacle Sl which contains soda. By this arangement the soda isdissolved through the flow of water from spray 8O and the solution iscarried from receptacle 31 through an overflow pipe 32 directly to thesoda solution tank 33. ln the present embodiment, the soda solution ispumped through a strainer` 8,3V disposed within tank 23 through pipe Seby means of punip- 25 through supply pipe to a ldistributor head 66Yhaving a can interior spraying nozzle 67, pipe 88 which connects withvertically extendingrspray pipe 6ft, heretofore mentioned, and pipes 39and 9o which connect with vertically extendingA perforated spray pipes91 and 92, respectively, for spraying soda solution upon the exterior ofa can. A

branch pipe 93 connected to cover spraying 1 nozzles Se. interposed inpipe 85, as shown in Fig. 9, is a relief valve 95 adapted to be operatedthrough the medium of devices mountedl upon the carriage, as hereinafterdescribed. When the machin is in operation, the soda solutionl iscontinuously circulated by means of pump 25, and relief valve 95 isautomatically operated as presently described for alternately directinguid to the spraying nozzles and disconnecting coinrnunication to thespraying nozzles, and divertm the fluid through a short pipe connection96 disposed above the tank Y33 and adapted to return the solutionthereto.

In the present rnachine,` there are preferably two steam supplyv pipes.connected at 97 to the upper portion of a radia tor 98, and afterpassing through said radiator is connected by means of a transverse pipe99 and pipes 199, 101 and 162 to an injector water heater 103. Thesupply of steam to heater 103 is controlled by a push-steni valve los;disposedA in proximity to valve 68, as shown in Fig. 2. Cold water issupplied to the water heater 103 by branch pipe 67 leading frein coldwater pipe 67, and the volume'o water to the heater regulated by valve67"; BranchingV from steam pipe 991s a vertical supply pipe 155connected to hand operated control valve 166 and transverse pipe 107 toa discharge pipe 10S projecting withy in the soda solution in tank 33for heating the The cold' water supplied to the heater 103 is heatcdrbyVsolution to `the desired temperature.

the steam supply, and the hot water from said heater is conveyed throughpipe 169 tocan discharging nozzle 110 and cover discharging-,nozzleslll. Thusit will berseen that the hot water supply to these lastmentioned nozzles is underY the control or valves 68 and 101i.

The second steainsupply for a sterilizing. bath is carried' throughsupply pipe 112 to push-stero valve 113 and thence through pipe 114 tocan,

discharging nozzlello. The air supply for fan 27 is drawn into andheated by radiator 93, and

is discharged into a distributor 117 having a can The first steam lineis tai registering 'openingv 118 vand a cover registering,

opening 119. Mounted upon the underside of the carriag 45, adjacent theAouter edge thereof, are `a plurality of shoe members 120, preferablyequal in number to the number of can and cover receiving compartments.Each shoe member 120 lis provided with an outer depending lug 121 and aninner depending lug 122 disposed at a lesser radius. Pivotally mountedupon stationary bracket 123, as shown in Fig. 2, at 124, is a valveoperating lever 125, one end of which is provided with a cutway portion126 adaptedto contact with arm 12'7 of a bellcrank pivotally mounted onbracket 128 at 129 (see Fig. 12).. The other arm 139 of said bell crankis pivcted to one end of link 131, the opposite end of which ispivotally connected at one edge oi valve depressing plate 132, theopposite edge of which is pivoted to the upper portion of bracket 123.Adjacent the respective stems of valves 68, 104, and 113, is a set screw133 threaded through plate 132 whereby to obtain a close adjustment inthe valve stem operation. Pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite end oflever 125, at 134, is a cam plate 135 having an engagingsurface 136 andadapted to be adjusted for regulating the swing of the levervby setscrew 137. Mounted adjacent cam plate 135 is a vertically movable stoprod 138, normally maintained in elevated position by compression spring139 disposed between collar 140 and plate 22, as shown in Fig. 1. Inthis position the upper extremity of rodY 138 is in the path of theouter lug 121 of each shoe member 120. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, arelease bar 141 is mounted for rocking movement in brackets 142, and theinner end is provided with an offset portion 143 adapted normally to bemaintained in the position shown inv Fig. 1 by arm 144 mounted on bar141, having contact with a laterally extending arm 145 mounted on rod138. Offset portion 143 is normally disposed in the path of twodepending cam members 146 mounted on the under surface of disc 43, asshown in Fig. 1, which are arranged diametrically opposite. Mounted onthe upper end of stern 147 oi the soda solution relief valve 95 is anoperating arm having one portion 148 adapted to be successively engagedby each lug 121 of shoe members 120, and a second portion 149 adapted tobe similarly and successively engaged by the respective lugs 122. rllhecore 150 of valve 95 has a transverse port 151 which, in the positionsshown in Figs. 9 and 10, offers communication directly to the sprayingnozzles and pipes. Extending laterally from port 151 is a port 152, andwhen the valve stem is rotated.

'in a clockwise directionfrom the positions shown in Figs. 9 and 11 bymeans of engagement of a lug 122 with portion 149, communication withthe nozzles is closed and the soda solution supply is diverted throughthe short discharge pipe 96 for return to the tank. A locking plate 153may be pivoted to the band 40, as shown in Fig. 6, for engagement innotches provided in bar 141. Disposed beneath the loading station, ad-

jacent the hood door and extending beneath the cold water sprayingnozzles '71 and 72, is a drain pan 154 having a suitable drain outlet155, and similarly disposed beneath the steam sterilizing dischargenozzles 115 and 116 and extending beneath the hot air discharge openings118 and 119, is a drain pan 156 having a downwardly inclined edge 157adapted to drain the liquid from the condensed steam into tank 33. Tank33 is provided with a; suitable overflow drainv 158, and may also beprovided with a drain 159 in the bottom 38 for draining the entirecontents of the tank.

From the foregoing'description the general operation will be apparent,but in amplification, although the lower disc 43 is adapted tocontinuously rotate during operation o the machine, the travelingcarriage is brought to rest upon each contact o a lug 121 with the upperextremity of rod 133, as shown in Fig. 1. The speed of the machine isregulated so that this rest period is of sufficient duration to permit acleansed can and cover to be removed through the hood door and a can andcover inserted in' a compartment for conveyance through the machine.Simultaneous with this intermittent halting of the carriage, the inneredge of the lug 121, which contacts with rod 138, is brought in slidingContact with cam plate 135, causing lever 125 to be swung so as todepress plate 132 and cause the opening of valves 68, 104 and 113,whereby during each rest period the cold water, hot water and steamsupplies are opened and these cleansing fluids discharged through therespective nozzles. Also in this rest position the lug 121, immediatelyin advance of that in contact with rod 138, is in contact with armportion 148 on valve 95, thus opening communication between the sodasolution supply pipe and the soda solution spraying devices. This restperiod is maintained until a cam member 146 contacts with the onsetportion 143 on release bar 141, whereupon rod 138 is depressed by en.

gagement of arms 144 and 145, allowing the carriage to resume its travelby reason of the frictionally engaging discs. During the initial travellug 122 of the shoe member 120 adjacent the relief valve 95 contactswith portion 149 of the soda solution relief valve 95, thus rotating thestem so as to divert the soda solution to the containing tank, and upondisengagement of the next following lug 121 with cam plate 135, valvesv68, 104 and 113 are closed by compression springs within the valves.The travel continues until the next lug 122 contacts with stop rod 138,whereupon 'the operation isr repeated. In the present embodiment of themachine the duration of the alternating travel or conveying periods isless than that of the washing periods, but it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that these alternating periods may be varied vasdesired. rThe invention is embodied in a machine, positive and automaticin operation, and utilizing but a single source of power, with thevarious mechanisms combined to produce the utmost efficiency in amachine of this character.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention'into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvaria tions and modications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, atraveling carriage adapted to convey articles to be subjected tocleansing operations, said carriage provided with an inner wall and anouter wall, and a spray pipe disposed between said walls, one of saidwalls provided with an opening for the discharge of cleansing solutionfrom said spray pipe,

2. A machine of the character described, cornprising, in combination, atraveling carriage adapted to convey articles to be subjected tocleansing operations, said carriage provided with an inner Wali and anouter wall, a plurality of object receiving compartments; and a spraypipe disposed between said Walls, one of said walls provided with anopening for the discharge of cleansing soiution from said spray pipe.

3. A machine of the character described, cornprising, in combination, atraveling carriage adapted to convey articles to be subjected tocleansing operations, said carriage being pro'- vided with an innervvaii and an outer Wall, a spray pipe' disposed between said Walls, pumpmeans for supplying a cleansing fluid to said pipe, drive means foroperating said carriage,l

and a power unit adapted to operate said pump and drive means, one ofsaid carriage Walls being provided With an opening for the discharge ofcleansing' solution from said spray pipe.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising, in combination, aadapted to convey articles, said carriage being rovided with an innerWall Vand an outer Wall, a

conduit disposed between said Walls and equipped.v

traveling carriageY

